India must act on youth mental health crisis

Source: The post India must act on youth mental health crisis has been created, based on the article “THE ADOLESCENT AT HOME” published in “Indian Express” on 19th April 2025. India must act on youth mental health crisis.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context: India is facing a youth mental health crisis. Academic pressure, digital stress, and emotional isolation are common among adolescents. The crisis is deepening, but mental health continues to receive little policy focus or investment.

For detailed information on Issues with Mental Health and Mental Healthcare in India read this article here

A Silent Epidemic Among Youth

1. Neglect in Public Health Policy: The National Mental Health Survey (2016) found that 1 in 10 adolescents suffers from a mental health disorder. Yet, India allocates less than 0.5% of its health budget to mental health. This is concerning, especially with over 250 million Indians under age 20.
2. Warning Signs Ignored: Despite the rising emotional distress among youth, mental health remains a neglected part of India’s public health agenda. Over 40,000 student suicides in five years point to a growing but largely unaddressed crisis.

Digital Age and Emotional Struggles

1. Pandemic’s Deep Impact: The Covid-19 lockdown disrupted school routines and social interactions. Many adolescents turned to digital platforms for connection. But this often increased feelings of comparison, anxiety, and isolation.
2. Persistent Digital Habits: Digital behaviour developed during lockdown has continued. Constant exposure to social media has deepened emotional vulnerability and increased performance pressure.

Cultural Influences and Emotional Suppression

1. Toxic Online Masculinity: Social media influencers often promote toxic masculinity. Boys are encouraged to hide emotions, act with aggression, and avoid seeking help. This fosters misogyny and emotional repression.
2. Redefining Masculinity: It is vital to present healthier male role models. Strength must be redefined as emotional honesty, not suppression. A culture of empathy, self-awareness, and resilience should be encouraged.

Changing Attitudes at Home and in Public Life

1. Ending Stigma at Home: The stigma around mental health often begins within families. Parents and caregivers must be trained to identify signs of distress and treat mental health with equal urgency as physical illness.
2. Public Figures as Mental Health Advocates: Celebrities, influencers, and politicians play a key role. By sharing personal experiences, they help normalize mental health conversations and promote emotional openness.

Way Forward

1. Mental Health in Schools: Support must be integrated into school systems. This includes preventive counselling, emotional education, and digital literacy. Students should be equipped to handle emotional challenges and engage safely in online environments.
2. Increased Budget and Access: India must significantly raise its mental health budget to expand services and improve infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Lack of funding is no longer just a technical issue—it is a life-threatening gap for millions of vulnerable youth.
3. Cultural and Moral Commitment: India must respond to this crisis with urgency and empathy. The emotional weight on youth is too heavy to ignore. This is not only a public health issue—it is a human crisis. The cost of inaction will be measured in lost lives and lost futures. India must choose compassion, courage, and connection—and most importantly, must listen to its young people.

Question for practice:

Examine the key factors contributing to the youth mental health crisis in India and suggest measures to address them.